Woman accused of abandoning baby is located, arrested

By Pat Reavy , Deseret News

Published: Thursday, July 11 2013 12:20 p.m. MDT

Jamie Dawn Todd, 32, was arrested Thursday, July 11, 2013. Salt Lake police had been looking for Todd since she was charged Wednesday with abuse or neglect of a child, a third-degree felony, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. (Salt Lake County Jail)

SALT LAKE CITY — A mother who left her infant alone in a stroller in the Avenues was arrested Thursday.

Salt Lake police had been looking for Jamie Dawn Todd, 32, since she was charged Wednesday with abuse or neglect of a child, a third-degree felony, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. Officers spotted her walking near 500 West and 300 South just after 11 a.m. and took her into custody.

On Monday, police say a jogger found a 2-month-old boy in a stroller parked under a tree near 260 North and A Street in the Avenues about 5:30 a.m. The parents or a guardian were nowhere to be found.

In the baby's diaper bag, investigators found a possible ID of the mother, and drug paraphernalia.

Todd contacted police several hours after her baby was found. But after being interviewed, she did not have a good explanation as to why she and her child were separated, said Salt Lake police detective Veronica Montoya. The infant was placed into state protective custody.

Jamie Dawn Todd, shown in this September 2010 jail booking photo, was arrested Thursday, July 11, 2013. Salt Lake police had been looking for Todd, 32, since she was charged Wednesday with abuse or neglect of a child, a third-degree felony, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. (Salt Lake County Jail)

Utah state court records indicate that Todd has previous convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.